McLennan County Arrest Records

McLennan County arrest records typically contain data on arrests conducted within the county. Such records are usually created after an arrest event. Arrests occur when there’s enough evidence of an individual’s involvement in a crime. Peace officers may also conduct arrests to prevent a potential crime or harm. Furthermore, arrested persons are temporarily held at the county jail, depending on the offense type and severity.

McLennan County's sheriff’s office is mostly responsible for creating arrest warrants. The agency also allows access to records in their custody. Thus, interested record seekers must direct their records request to the county sheriff’s office at:

901 Washington Avenue
Waco, TX 76701
Phone: (254) 757-5095

Besides the county sheriff’s office, arrest records are also accessible in related public documents. For instance, McLennan County court records on criminal or civil cases may include arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in McLennan County?

Under the Texas Public Information Act, arrest records are classified as public documents. This means the general public may request, inspect, and get copies of such records from designated entities. In turn, the law requires record custodians to provide the records upon request from record seekers.

However, not all arrest records are publicly accessible under state law. The law permits custodians to refuse requests for such exempt records. For example, arrest records that were sealed or expunged are not accessible to the public.

Under Sec. 552.102, exempt arrest records in McLennan County may include the following:

• Arrest documents that may reveal the personal information of law enforcement personnel
• Documents that, if disclosed, will interfere with the investigation or prosecution of a crime.
• Records that contain investigation details for crimes that did not result in deferred adjudication or conviction.
• Arrest-related documents that contain sensitive or gruesome crime scenes.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In McLennan County, public arrest records may include the following details:

• The arrestee’s name and aliases
• Physical-identifying features
• Arrest charges
• Arrest case number
• Booking date
• Arrest date and location
• Arresting agency.

McLennan County Crime Rate

The Texas Department of Public Safety’s uniform crime reporting system maintains crime statistics for all counties in the state. Per the report, McLennan County recorded a crime rate of 3443.7 per 100,000 residents. The report covers statistics on crimes like manslaughter, burglary, assault, motor vehicle theft, and larceny theft. Larceny thefts and burglaries were the most-documented crimes at 3,873 and 3,801, respectively.

McLennan County Arrest Statistics

The TxDPS also generates a statistics report for reported arrests in McLennan County. According to the report, McLennan County law enforcement agencies conducted 779 arrests between August 2023 and August 2024. The report covers arrests under categories A and B. McLennan County’s correctional facilities housed 964 inmates in 2022, according to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.

Find McLennan County Arrest Records

In McLennan County, arrest records are mostly accessible through the county sheriff’s office. The sheriff allows in-person inquiries about records under their custody. To obtain arrest records, interested parties must make an in-person request to the county sheriff at:

901 Washington Avenue
Waco, TX 76701
Phone: (254) 757-5095

Inmate records are alternative sources for finding McLennan County arrest records. Such records may include arrest-related data like the arrestee's name, charges, booking date, and bond conditions. To find inmate records, record seekers must contact agencies responsible for keeping the records. For instance, you can view inmate information on the McLennan County sheriff’s online inmate list.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice also hosts an online search database for incarcerated inmates in the state’s correctional facilities. To view inmate information, users must input the inmate’s name, race, gender, TDCJ number, or SID number.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator is another option for finding arrest records. Users must input the inmate’s name or prison-identifying number to use the online search platform.

Free Arrest Record Search in McLennan County

There are free government-operated resources for finding McLennan County arrest records. The resources may include:

• The McLennan County’s inmate list
• TDCJ online inmate search database
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator.

Third-party search sites are alternative options for finding arrest records. Such sites are generally free and easy-to-use. Most importantly, they do not restrict access to out-of-country users. Despite the perks, third-party search sites are often unregulated and should not replace official resources for finding arrest records.

Get McLennan County Criminal Records

Criminal records are official documents that contain information on criminal convictions. Such records are generally compilations of crime-related data, including arrest, court disposition, and incarceration details.

Record seekers can find McLennan County criminal records through the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Records Division. As the record custodian, the agency allows name- or fingerprint-based checks for criminal records. For name-based checks, interested parties must input the record subject’s first or last name in the agency’s online search database. Note that new users must create an account to search the database. Users must also purchase search credits to use the database.

McLennan County Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records

McLennan County arrest records are quite different from criminal records in terms of content, creation process, and custodian agencies. For example, arrest records comprise arrest data, including the arrestee's name, charges, warrants, arrest date and location, and bond conditions. However, criminal records contain crime-related data. They are compilations of arrest information, court case files, court disposition, and incarceration documents.

In terms of custodian agency, the McLennan County sheriff’s office is the primary custodian of arrest records. However, criminal records are under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The record creation process also differentiates the records. Law enforcement agencies generate arrest records after collating the arresting officer’s report, fingerprinting, and photographing suspected offenders. Unlike arrest records, criminal records are created after an arrest charge leads to a court case.

The records also have different implications. Arrest records are no indications of the arrestees’ guilt.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In McLennan County, arrest records will remain as part of your public records indefinitely. However, you can seal or remove the records from public view. Note that there are legal processes for expunging arrest records.

Expunge McLennan County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal process for erasing documents from public view or access. In McLennan County, eligible persons can expunge arrest records by filing a petition with the county district court. However, expunging criminal records requires filing a petition with the court that oversaw the case.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in McLennan County?

Under Art. 45.0216, you are eligible to expunge arrest records if:

• You were arrested but not convicted, and there was no court-ordered supervision.
• You were tried for the offense but later acquitted, dismissed, or pardoned.
• You were convicted but later received a pardon.

How to expunge arrest records in McLennan County

To expunge arrest records, petitioners may use these steps:

1. Check if they meet the legal requirement for expunging arrest records.
2. Create a petition that includes the following data:
   1. The petitioner’s personal information, including the names, aliases, social security number, and address as at the time of the arrest.
   2. The petitioner’s physical features, such as sex, height, and weight.
   3. Charges filed against the petitioner and necessary details like the case number and court name
   4. List of all public and private entities that have access to the arrest information. The list should also contain the entities’ physical or email address.
   5. A statement declaring a request for relief
3. Notarize the petition in the presence of the notary public.
4. You may consult an attorney to review the petition.
5. Next, include the filing fee. You may contact the county court to get the filing fees.
6. Create copies of the petition and give a copy to the court clerk.
7. The court will then set a hearing date within thirty days of receiving the petition and notify all the agencies named in the petition.
8. If the court approves the petition, you may present an expunction order for the court judge to sign.
9. Make a copy of the signed order and file the original with the court clerk.

McLennan County Arrest Warrants

McLennan County arrest warrants are written court directives that enforce the arrests of suspected offenders. Court magistrates may issue arrest warrants after receiving an oath from law enforcement officers. The oath could be a verbal or written statement that an individual has committed an offense against the state.

Under Art. 15.02 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, an arrest warrant must typically include the following details:

• The suspect’s name and physical description
• Offense description and type
• Magistrate’s signature and official title.

Which arrest charges are not eligible for expungement in McLennan County?

The following arrest charges are not eligible for expungement:

• Driving under the influence,
• Driving while intoxicated,
• Murder,
• Assaults with an affirmative finding of family violence,
• Contempt of court,
• Child support payments
• Criminal solicitation,
• Indecency with a child,
• Sexual assault,
• Kidnapping,
• Aggravated robbery,
• Drug trafficking, or
• Aggravated assault.

McLennan County Arrest Warrant Search

McLennan County regularly updates an online list of outstanding warrants issued in the county. The list provides information on the record subject’s name and warrant number. Record seekers may also inquire about active arrest warrants at the local law enforcement agency or the court that issued the documents. To find active warrants in McLennan County, interested parties may inquire at the county sheriff’s office.

Do McLennan County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In McLennan County, arrest warrants do not expire until they get resolved. Warrants are mostly resolved when the court nullifies them, or the record subject gets arrested.